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Evgenia’s opposed to this American commoner (who makes himself comfy in her parlor without asking permission), favoring fellow refugee Vladimir (David Warner), who’s in love with Zoya. Zoya gets her imperial way — she is the czar’s niece, after all — and marries her American. Evgenia, of course, succumbs to that mysterious, fortuitous vidvirus that serves so handily in TV dramas.

In New York, Zoya, after a final, gruesome scene with Andrews, finds herself Depression-destitute. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. She finds two ways: by opening a high-toned shop and by marrying wealthy wholesaler Simon Hirsch (Philip Casnoff).

Self-absorbed Zoya sails through life wringing her hands over her plights but never sees how she hurts those around her. Actual noble Russian emigres of the 1920s and ’30s spoke of, thought of and revered their homeland, but not Zoya, who uses a peasant’s tenacity climbing to her improbable heights.

Gilbert, narrating the story with a good accent, occasionally misplaces the darned thing as the drama rips along. Her Zoya rings hollow, while Boxleitner’s captain is a conventional leading-man interp.

Casnoff (he played Frank Sinatra in the CBS vidbio) comfortably limns loving second husband Simon. Rigg, done up sternly, and Warner, as an elderly suitor for Zoya, give the vidpic dignity.

Margaret Illmann, as a doubting dancer greeting Zoya at the ballet, is memorable in a brief role, and Julian Stone, as conniving Freddy, who marries Zoya’s daughter, is strong. Peggy Cass appears eloquently as landlady Malloy.

The well-traveled production looks costly, designer Francesco Chianese has chosen effective sites (the St. Petersburg exteriors work especially well), and Barbara Lane’s costumes are appropriate. The camerawork of Laszlo George, with its usual efficiency, enriches the drama, and Michael S. Murphy’s editing gives the work a fast pace. No lingering here!

Steel’s storyline is thin to begin with, but Colla and the cast help it along with lots of zest. For those who know nothing about the Russian Revolution, Faberge eggs or Uncle Nicki, the work may be a puzzler, but the vid appeal of both Steel and Gilbert will serve as sufficient draw.

Danielle Steel's Zoya

(Sun. (17), Mon. (18), 9-11 p.m., NBC)

Production:
Mother Russia of 1917 gets into the act when willful teenage Countess Zoya (Melissa Gilbert)More TV reviews, pages 19 and 20 sees her brother, mother and father shot down by revolutionists. Self-centered Zoya and her royal grandmama Evgenia (Diana Rigg), broke, flee to Paris. Zoya, an amateur toe-dancer, auditions with Diaghilev himself to dance in the Ballet Russe. And is hired.